Stress Relief Tip - Coloring or Doodling

Thinking back to your school days, you can probably remember coloring or doodling while one of your teachers droned on about a boring subject. This activity helped you pass the time while also listening somewhat to what was being said. It was an early form of multitasking that many of us have carried into our adult lives full of dull meetings.

Coloring offers an escape to all the stress and responsibilities of adult life without having to spend a lot of money or time on the activity. Even if you only have a few minutes to spare each day, carving out the time for this quiet activity can make a big difference in your mindset and stress levels.

Studies have proven the benefits of adult coloring books. First of all, coloring helps you detach from your worries temporarily because you’re focused on the task at hand. The studies also show an increase in mindfulness and decrease in anxiety(1), which is the whole point of the exercise.

If you like freehand doodling or drawing, a simple sketch pad and pencil will work. If you prefer just to color, there are a lot of adult coloring books available online or in bookstores. You can color animals, Disney characters or other shapes. If bad words don’t bother you, consider books that have sassy and/or offensive comments to make you laugh or smile as you relax into your coloring activity. One of the best-known adult language set of coloring books can be found at https://www.sashaohara.com/.

(1) https://www.powerofpositivity.com/best-alternative-to-meditation

Please note that there is no guarantee a particular stress relief tool will work for you. Thus you must take complete responsibility for using them and for your own physical and emotional wellbeing. Further, Professor Pete Alexander is not a licensed health professional. Please consult qualified health practitioners regarding your use of any stress relief technique. Medical advice must only be obtained from a physician or qualified health practitioner.